Programmes: MASV-MEHA Master's Programme in Geographies of Sustainable Development - Spring 2022

Name of qualification

Master of Philosophy in Geographies of Sustainable Development

ECTS Credits

Two year programme (120 ECTS credits)

Language of Instruction

All courses are taught in English.

Semester

Autumn (August)

Objectives and content

The aim of the programme is to provide the candidates with theoretical and methodological skills enabling them to qualify for a Master's Degree. The programme addresses environmental, social and economic sustainability challenges in a global perspective. The topics are related to issues of relevance for the study of livelihoods and environmental problems in the global South. The courses aim at introducing the candidates to contemporary scientific discourses on human-nature relations and development, and provide them with analytical skills and critical thinking. The thesis is normally based on data produced though fieldwork in the global South.

Required Learning Outcomes

A candidate who has completed his or her programme should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The candidate

can analyse and present advanced knowledge in geographical research in relation to themes such as sustainable development, migration, gender, food security, climate change, political ecology, environmental discourses, governance and institutions in the global South
can analyse geographical issues on the basis of history of geographical thought and theory of science
can apply contemporary theories, methods and interpretations in geography, and work independently and in teams with practical and theoretical problem solving

Skills

The candidate

can establish and develop professional relationships with relevant actors in society
can choose and delimit a researchable theme for a Master´s thesis and develop a research problem which can be carried out within the time limits and resources available for the study
can select and evaluate relevant methods for collection of empirical data, and give an epistemological account of the methodological choices.
can delimit, plan and carry out collection of empirical data through field work
can search systematically in libraries, scientific and other data bases and interpret and evaluate data and literature critically
can discuss and analyse different sources of information critically, analyse empirical data and present geographical arguments and analyses
can write a research report within given time and resource limits, apply geographical terminology and good academic writing, with exact, updated and systematic use of references, with due credit to secondary sources

General competence

The candidate

has the ability to carry out field work and treat data in accordance with good ethical norms and Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) practice
has the ability to complete a project
has the ability to disseminate research results as publications, articles in media and oral presentations

Admission Requirements

In order to apply for the Master's Programme in Geographies of Sustainable Development you need a bachelor's degree of 3-4 years' duration, or an equivalent educational background.

The degree must include at least 1,5 years (80-90 ECTS) of full-time studies in geography or other relevant backgrounds such as environmental studies, development studies or political ecology with a social sciences perspective.

You also need to document:

Average grade of minimum C (https://www.uib.no/en/education/62545/academic-system#grading-scaleequivalent to Norwegian grade C)
https://www.uib.no/en/education/49142/english-language-requirements-masters-programmeshttps://www.uib.no/en/education/49142/english-language-requirements-masters-programmesProficiency in English

Master thesis credits

The thesis is normally based on field collection of data in a country in the global South, carried out between the first and second year of study. The master's thesis itself, and course options, will be adapted to the individual academic backgrounds and interests of the students.

Sequential Requirements, courses

The programme consists of the following courses. All courses are compulsory and must be taken in the order listed.

Autumn 1st semester

GEO308 Theory of Science and Research Design for Geographers (10 ECTS)
GEO310 Writing Course and Project Description (10 ECTS)
GEO330 Theories of Sustainable Land Use (10 ECTS)

Spring 2nd semester

GEO306 Methods in Human Geography (10 ECTS)
GEO337 Discourses, Politics and People: Critical Perspectives on Environmental Governance (10 ECTS)

And one of these two courses:

GEO316 Practical Skills in Remote Sensing and Spatial analysis (10 ECTS)
GEO324 Geographies of the Green Economy (10 ECTS)

Summer

Fieldwork

3rd and 4th semester

GEO350 Master's Thesis in Geography, 60 credits

The courses (60 ECTS) must be completed before the thesis can be submitted. The students must also accomplish and pass 3 milestone seminars before submitting the master thesis.

1. Milestone (1st autumn): GEO310 - Project presentation for the supervisor and an opponent. Fellow students, PhDs and academic stab can also be present. Takes place the 2nd week of December.
2. Milestone (1st spring): Presentation and discussion of theory, research design for the master thesis and the planned field work in a research group. Takes place in April/May.
3. Milestone (2nd autumn): After fieldwork. The student shall produce a short report of data, main findings and methodology. Poster presentation and discussion in a research group. Takes place last week in September.

Study period abroad

The field work is normally conducted in a country in the global South.

Teaching and learning methods

The teaching consists mainly of lectures and seminars with assignments.

Teaching methods

The teaching consists mainly of lectures and seminars with assignments.

Assessment methods

Department of Geography uses a variety of assessments.

Written exam
Oral exam
Take home exam, often in combination with oral exam
Portfolio

Grading scale

At the University of Bergen the student's academic performance is assessed both through final examinations as well as various term assignments.

The grading system has either

a descending scale from A to E for passes and F for fail, or
pass/fail

Grading A-F is most commonly used.

Access to further studies

A master's degree in Resources and Human Adaptations qualifies for studies at a PhD level.

Administrative responsibility

Department of Geography

Objectives / Contents

The aim of the programme is to provide the candidates with theoretical and methodological skills enabling them to qualify for a Master Degree. The topics are related to issues of relevance for the study of livelihoods and environmental problems in mountain areas and other marginal areas of the Third World. The courses aim at introducing the candidates to contemporary scientific discourses on human-nature relations, and provide them with analytical skills and critical thinking. The thesis is normally based on field collection of data in the country of origin, carried out between the first and second year of study.

The programme is primarily aimed at candidates exchanged via collaborative programmes between University of Bergen and the following partners: Tribhuvan University, Nepal, Pontificia Universidad Catolica, Peru, Ghana University, Ghana and Yunnan University, China. The program is also open for Norwegian applicants.

The programme consists of the following courses:

Autumn, 1st semester,

GEO 310 Writing workshop and project proposal - 10 credits

GEO 308 Theory of science and research design for geographers - 10 credits

GEO 338 Theories about development and migration II - 10 credits

Spring, 2nd semester,

GEO 306 Methods in social science - 10 credits

GEO 309 Term paper -10 credits

GEO 337 Myths, narratives and institutions: Critical perspectives on environment and development - 10 credits

3rd and 4th semester,

GEO 350 Practical/theoretical master thesis in geography - 60 credits

A master degree in Resources and Human Adaptations qualifies for studies at a PhD level.

Admission requirements

A first degree (bachelor's degree) of three or four years¿ duration from an approved institution of higher education, as well as proficiency in the English language.

Method

The methods to be applied will depend on the topic you choose, and will often imply combinations of qualitative and quantitative methods. The programme includes a course in methods in social science. Students, who have taken part in the programme as distance learning students, may choose other methodological courses as electives.

Thesis

The thesis is normally based on field collection of data in the country of origin, carried out between the first and second year of study. The master's thesis itself, and course options, will be adapted to the individual academic backgrounds and interests of the students. For the sake of the flexibility, the students may choose to split the second and the third semester between thesis work and courses in order to attend elective courses only available in autumn semester and vice versa.

Programme structure

The programme covers two academic years (four semesters), and starts in the autumn. In the first semester, you are required to complete a writing workshop and a project proposal. In addition you complete a course which consists of lectures in theory of science and a research design for geographers, and finally, the subject Ecology, People and Institutions in Development. In the second semester you will complete the courses Methods in Social Sciences, Term paper and Myths and Narratives in Development and Environment. In the third and fourth semester you concentrate on the practical/theoretical master's thesis in geography.

Start-up Date

Autumn